Oh! No need to be sorry! I actually had no idea that if can work like that on AO3 so I really appreciate your explanation, thank you! =) I probably didn't stumble over any exchanges there yet since I don't really read fanfics outside of Arashi fandom and I have to admit, I thought the gift option is just... that XD An option to mark if you wrote a story for someone else, which can also happen outside of an exchange. My bad and now I learnd something new ^^

I think that system on AO3 actually does not sound so bad either, even if quite different (and less mod-involved if I understood you correctly? Which whould on the one hand be good for the mod as it involves less work and trouble but on the other hand our exchange is stamped by an excellent mod and that's part of the event so I personally think it would be a pity if the involvement vanishes? Since the personal note from the mod's side makes it so familial and such a nice place.)

Then the question is if mod/people are willing to change from a known system to a new one... I personally am someone who likes to stick to things she knows, tbh (for example, I am still a bit struggling to adjust to dw after moving here from lj, even if the sites are not THAT different. Maybe that's because I'm getting old xD)